☕ *Your Expresso is ready!* 📬 *Get this delivered straight to your inbox:* https://indianexpress.com/newsletters/ *Read this newsletter in a single page:* https://indianexpress.com/article/live-news/top-news-today-briefing-10057769/ Good morning, *🚨 Big Story* Last week, this edition spoke about the curious murder case in Meghalaya. On May 23, a newlywed couple, Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi, went missing just a day into their honeymoon. On June 2, the police found Raja's body deep inside a gorge, while Sonam remained missing. *Plot twist:* A week later, the case has taken an unexpected turn. The police have arrested a 21-year-old Raj Kushwaha, suspected of conspiring with Sonam to kill her husband. Kushwaha was arrested in Indore, along with three other assailants hired to carry out the crime. Sonam, meanwhile, surrendered to the police in Uttar Pradesh. https://www.inexp.in/3JHJCf *Zoom in:* According to investigators, the Kushwaha and Sonam met at a plywood factory owned by Sonam’s family, where both once worked. The plan to kill Raja was ostensibly hatched just days after the wedding. While Sonam’s family remains in disbelief, Raja’s mother claims her daughter-in-law planned the honeymoon, took Rs 9 lakh from him, and convinced him to carry expensive jewellery. Police are now probing those allegations. https://www.inexp.in/aio7fY *The politics:* The case took on wider implications with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma demanding an apology from those who tried to paint the Northeastern state in a bad light following the murder. In an interview with The Indian Express, Sangma asserted that Meghalaya remains a safe place for tourists. https://www.inexp.in/GiZEbD *⚡ Only in Express* *Countdown begins:* The launch of the Axiom-4 mission, set to carry Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to space, was delayed by a day due to bad weather conditions. The lift-off is now set for Wednesday, 5.30 pm (IST). Shukla will be the first Indian to go to the International Space Station (ISS) and earn crucial experience for India's own Gaganyaan (human spaceflight) mission. https://www.inexp.in/uZg5eF Hence, the Axiom-4 mission carries significance for India's space ambitions. It will allow India to carry out experiments in space, tailored to its needs, such as effects of space on moong dal, micro algae and so on. Astrophysicist Somak Raychaudhury explains in detail. https://www.inexp.in/1-ySfl How did India get a seat on the Axiom mission? Closer collaboration with the US and the signing of the Artemis Accords paved the way. Know all about it. https://www.inexp.in/zxgjwF 🎧 For more on Shukla’s mission, tune in to today’s ‘3 Things’ podcast episode. https://www.inexp.in/YXNYI+ *📰 From the Front Page* *Push back:* Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has invoked a 1950 Act to allow district collectors to “push back” anyone they prima facie find to be foreigners into Bangladesh — without going through the state’s existing system of Foreigners Tribunals. https://www.inexp.in/0Uc9AK *‘Impeach’:* Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar is likely to form an inquiry panel to look into the hate speech allegations against Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of the Allahabad High Court. Opposition MPs have submitted a representation with 55 signatures to bring an impeachment motion against the judge to Dhankhar. https://www.inexp.in/69HxUW *Fast-track:* An 11.2 gigawatt hydropower project on the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh is facing opposition from villagers, who are likely to be displaced. State-owned hydropower developer NHPC Ltd is working with stakeholders to “expedite” progress and finalise the project site, sources have told The Indian Express. https://www.inexp.in/jDHZsZ *📌 Must Read* *Capital Column:* Deputy Editor Liz Mathew speaks to BJP leaders on the party's prospects as the first year of Modi 3.0 comes to an end. While the BJP has been buoyed by state election victories and the passage of certain legislation, challenges remain, such as stagnant FDI, the indecisive ally, JD(U), and roadblocks to the party’s campaign in the South. https://www.inexp.in/Adi79c *T20 for the win:* Former foreign secretary, Nirupama Rao, makes a case for an India-led bloc to strengthen its fight against terrorism. Rao proposes a dedicated alliance of 20 countries, called T20 (Twenty Against Terrorism), that would help each other coordinate in real-time, share intelligence, build capacity and bring the Global South perspective to the forefront. https://www.inexp.in/ktnqsk *⏳ And Finally...* Sunday’s French Open final was a masterclass in grit and shot-making. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner didn’t just play great tennis, they redefined the boundaries of the baseline game. My colleague Namit Kumar breaks it down brilliantly in his analysis: a gripping look at how the final became a lesson in the unsubtle art of never backing off. https://www.inexp.in/4qs2ZG That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow, Sonal Gupta